I think of February as “Love Your Heart Month” both emotionally and physically. There's no better way to cultivate that love than with these Dark Chocolate Macaroons. You can make them in a snap, perfect for unexpected guests or cravings :) Now that doesn't mean you should stack a massive supply next to the remote control and settle in for the winter, even if you live in snow-bound New England! You can enjoy the glorious taste of dark chocolate guilt-free as long as you consume in moderation. So ...

Amy is baking "without" this week: come taste the delicious results! -- Denise
When my family went gluten-free last year, I started to notice that many gluten-free products weren’t nut- or soy- or dairy-free. Normally, that wouldn’t be a problem, but I also began to realize how many children have nut allergies or soy-sensitivity and how many adults are eating less dairy. My son couldn’t sit at the allergy table because he was usually bringing nut-based foods to school.
Living gluten-free ...

February is chocolate month here at the Energized Body. Amy’s got a great take on gluten-free brownies this week. Enjoy! -- Denise
In our house, brownies aren’t optional. Every batch is devoured, usually in hours, not days. When we had to go gluten-free, it was one of the first baked goods I worked to remake. Our favorite recipe just didn’t seem to work as well gluten-free.
My research turned up a master recipe by Alice Medrich, a well-known chocolate baking expert. I swapped out the gluten ...

And Why You Should, Too!
Ever wonder how I came up with my recipe for Dark Chocolate Goji Bark? As you may know, I don’t like to eat anything unless it is jammed with healing nutrients and delicious. Why waste the time and calories if it’s not going to benefit my body?
At the time, I was trying to create a healthy sweet, just a little something for the end of a meal. Dark chocolate is a sweet you want to eat because it contains potent antioxidants called flavanols. These flavanols help to ...

Amy plunges into gluten-free cookies this week. Who could say no to that? -- Denise
The winter holidays are all about tradition. Whether your family hails from Italy or India or Israel, how we celebrate is passed down from one generation to the next. This is especially true when it comes to food. Christmas without gingerbread, Hanukkah without latkes, or Diwali without gulab jamun? Just not the same!
When you are gluten-free, those traditions often need to change, sometimes in simple, ...

Amy is back this week to give some pointers for staying safe on your next gluten-free trip. Catch me at the Winchester Farmer's Market this weekend!
-- Denise
Summer is vacation time and that usually means travel. Traveling on a gluten-free diet has challenges, just like traveling with children has challenges: if you know what to expect, everything goes easier! For eating gluten-free, that means three things: know what to bring with you, know what to expect when you get to ...

Missed my Back to School Power Snack presentation at the Winchester Farmers Market? Well you are in luck! Thanks to our Farmers Market "Techie" Shukong who filmed the presentation you will be able will hear all the great back to school snack tips!
Just look how much the kids enjoyed the gluten free Chocolate Chip cookies. For the cookie recipe go to Back to School Breakfast And Snacks Enjoy! ...

European researchers reported those who included as little as a small square (7.5 gms) of chocolate daily had lower blood pressure and were 38% less likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke than those who rarely ate chocolate.
Chocolate, especially Dark Chocolate, 60% or higher is teeming with potent antioxidants called flavanols. Flavanols work their magic by improving the function of the cells that line arteries. This provides numerous benefits including lower blood pressure and better ...

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Sitch in the Kitch

Hi, it’s Denise Costello, co-founder of Chrysalis Center Meditation and Wellness, your gal who loves her “Sitch in the Kitch”. It’s my creative space where all the magic happens - food, music and internal merriment. Here I will share with you a recipe, meal planning tips, music, and perhaps we'll just dance! Whatever will raise your vibration and make cooking in the kitchen efficient, fun and healthy.

Anti-Inflammatory Cookbook

We know that by consistently eating an anti-inflammatory diet will reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer disease.

This cookbook is filled with simple, family-friendly recipes for busy parents who are striving to prepare quick healthy meals for their family. The recipes are not only for folks with ADHD but for anyone who would benefit from an anti-inflammatory diet.